Process of producing polo felt



June 5, 1923.

D. L. DAVIS PRocEss'oF PRODUCING POLO FELT Filed Jan. 14 1921 Patented June 5, 1923.

iastate DAVID I.. DAvI's, or" SOUTH NORWALK, CONNECTICUT, AssIGNOR To DAVIS-POPE COMPANY INCORPORATED, oF SOUTH NORWALK, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORA-v TION OF CONNECTICUT.

PROCESS OF PRODUCING POLO FELT.

Application led January 14, 1921. Serial N-o. 437,162.

T o all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, DAVID L. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at South Norwalk, Fairfield County,

State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Producing Polo Felt, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improvement in the process of producing polo felt intended for use in the manufacture of hats or other articles4 of apparel. My improved process is more particularly a finishing process by means of which the surface of fur or 15 hat-felt is changed so as to have the same appearance as polo cloth.

So far as I am aware, I am the first to produce a hat felt having a polo-cloth effect, this term being applied for the reason that the felt has substantially the same appearance as polo cloth.

My improved process produces a felt which is very desirable on account of its handsome appearance, especially when made up in the form of a hat, and I have found that my improved process produces a felt which renders articles made therefrom, more especially hats, very salable on account of the enhanced appearance thereof.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of a rotary abrasive device to carry out the rst step of the process;

Fig. 2 illustrates a similar view of a device to carry out the second step in the process;

Fig. 3 illustrates a side view of a device to carry out the third or bufiing step of the process;

Fig. 4 illustrates a device to carry out the fourth or blocking step of the process;

Fig. 5 illustrates a device to carry out the fth or nap raising step;

Fig. 6 illustrates a device to carry out the sixth or air blasting step;

Fig. 7 illustrates a device to carry out the 45 clipping step; and

Fi 8 illustrates a device tocarry out the twisting operation.

-In the production of my improved polo felt, I utilize ordinary fur felt which I treat 50 in a special manner now to be described. To produce my polo felt, I first subject fur felt to the action of an abrasive element lightly applied to the fur side ofthe felt, to take olf the fuzz or loose threads, so to speak. After wheel, white felt being preferably used for the buiiing step. I then place the felt, treated as above, over a block and iron it to conform it to the shape of the hat. After the felt is blocked and ironed,I subject same tothe action of a rotary bristle brush to raise the nap. I then direct a blast of air against the raised nap tocause same to stand up, or stick out from the body of the felt, and also to blow out the dust, etc. I then next clip off the upstanding nap to about one-eighth of an inch with whatA is known as a yelour clipper. After the nap has beenclipped, I subject same to the action of a felt pad, which is applied in the form of rotary motions in various directions.

The thus finished product will have an appearance, as hereinabove described, substantially similar to polo cloth.

The several steps of my improved process can be carried out by various forms of mechanical devices. The devices'hereinillustrated disclose a means to produce the desired result. Referrin to the drawing,

Fig. 1 illustrates a rotata le disk 9 carrying an abrasive element, sand-paper, for instance, indicated by 10. 'Io carry out the first step of the process, the felt, indicated by 11, will be applied to a support or board 12, and held against the abrasive element to have the fuzz or loose threads removed, the fur of the felt being indicated by 13. To carry out the next step, the felt will be subjected to the action of a wire brush 14, Fig. 2, to slightly vraise the nap to produce a velvety appearance, the pressure of the brush being regulated by the regulating wheel 15 and cooperating threaded post 16. During this operation, the support 12 for the felt will be shifted over the surface of the table 17 in order that the entire surface Of the felt can be treated. To carry out the next step in the process, the felt will be subjected to the action of a buing wheel 18, (Fig. 3), made of felt (preferably white. felt), the pressure of which will be regulated by a hand wheel 19 and threaded spindle 20. During the buffing step, the support l2 will be shifted over the surface of the table 2l in order that the entire surface of the felt can be treated. To carry out the neXt step, the felt will be fitted over a block 22 (Fig. 4) and ironed, the iron not being shown as such a device is well known. After the felt is ironed, I subject same to the action of a rotary bristle-brush 23 (Fig. 5) to raise the nap. After the nap is thus raised, I subject the felt to the action of an air blast, indicated by 24 (Fig. 6). After the nap has been raised by the airblast 24, I clip the same by means of a clipper, indicated by 25 (Fig. `7'), which is a fragmentary sectional view, enlarged, of thel block and felt thereon. After the felt is clipped, I subject it to the action of a ,felt pad 26 (Fig. 8) which can be fastened to the hand 27 of an operator. rIhe felt pad will be applied to the felt in the form of rotary motions in various directions to twist the threads out of their natural state. For instance, the pad may be moved to the right in the form of circular motions; then in a direction at a right angle to said movement to the right; then transversely of said two motions, and so on in various directions. During this latter step, in the operation the felt will be preferably dampened. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section view of a block and the felt thereon which is subjected to the action of the felt pad.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1S:-

1. The method of producing polo felt coning the polished raised nap to the action of an element operating in various directions, to produce a twisted effect in said nap.

3. The method of producing polo felt consisting in subjecting the nap of the felt to the action of an abrasive agent to remove the fuzz therefrom, thenpolishing the nap, then raising the nap, then clipping the ends of the nap, and nally subjecting the clipped nap to the action of an element operating in various directions, to produce a twisted eect in said nap.

4. The method of producing a hat consisting in first subjecting the nap of the felt to the action of an abrasive agent to remove the fuzz therefrom, then raising the nap, then polishing the nap, then ironing the same, then raising the ironed nap, and finally subjecting the raised nap t0 the action of an element Aoperating in various directions, to produce a twisted effect in said'nap.

Signed at-South Norwalk, Conn., this 8th day -of January, 1921.

DAVID L. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

THOMAS H. CANTY, S. H. Gm. 

